Tough decisions coming on defense

9:25 PM,
Jan. 13, 2013

San Francisco 49ers tight end Vernon Davis (85) catches a pass over Green Bay Packers inside linebacker A.J. Hawk (50) during the third quarter of the NFC divisional playoff game in San Francisco on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013. Tony Avelar/AP

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Mike McCarthy responded to his team's decline from an appearance in the NFC championship game in the 2007 season to a 6-10 record in 2008 by firing defensive coordinator Bob Sanders and most of the coaching staff on that side of the ball.

So what will the Green Bay Packers' coach do now that promising postseasons in back-to-back years have ended in bitter and decisive losses in the divisional round of the NFL playoffs?

No doubt McCarthy and general manager Ted Thompson face a long few days of soul searching and extended conversations on every aspect of football operations to determine how to get ...